The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-04-30
THE KANSAS FARMER.


We talked or read, or idly sat, behoiding.
Betwixt the wire strung poles and April sky,
From dawn till dusk the endcssly unfolding,
Swift panorama Of the land sweep by.
rhe twilight closed upon lonesome prairie,
A paling sunset pierced by one faint star
Above house low -browod and solitary,
seen from the windows OF our passing car.
For miles there was no other habitation,
Out from neishboring marsh heron took
Rose, gray and silent rs an exhalation.
And grew speck far In the fading light.
Framedby the doorway In the frowning gable,
The figure Of o man stood dark and stiil;
NJ Ssss grass s1nGs III
hill.
A solemn mule couched on his bony launches; /;
"A lanlc9Ow leaned and rubbed against her sty;
10 tree, but one bare locust, In whose branches
TurkeyS were roosting black against the sky.
The man stood gazing, gaunt of frame and
Sc slanSaoly S,l ana 50 I'M. mot,Snlsss 4, % A
with thinking of his utter loneliness.
Far from the cheerful light Of human faces,
The glow OF friendly converse, how could he
Endure lot as bare OF all the graces
As the surrounding hills OF house or tree!
He gazed as II with sad surmse and longing
AS thick as sparks above the rushing train,
His knded thoughts and aspirations thronging
Toward some great good which he could never
gain
We saw the lonely exile left behind;
But not till that brief vision OF o minute
Was photographed forever In the mind
The train sped on with loud. relentless changing;
But gentler fancies In my heart awoke,
AS recalled, in the wan twilight hanging
n nj nj tho mi ~
Symbol of household cheer the whole world
Perfect contentment brims no mortal breast
The dweller with the prairie-dog and gopher,
No doubt has his due portion with the rest.
His evening meal upon the Goals was cooking;
babe, fain would think, made glad the
house;
A wife, I'm sure but he was anxious looking
To see his boys come driving home the cows.
No thought had he to join the worlds great
~ battle.
k Or follow in the ranks of wealth and pride.
His home, his farm, his own small herd of cattle,
These are his world; he knows no world be-
side
Though few Of life's fair consultations enter
Tho door, to us so desolnte and dim,
That cabin on the prairie is the center
OF the round earth and rolling heavens to him
He. too-so fancy runs-has his ambition
To build barn, renew that two years loan,
Improve each day y little his condition,
And leave his children's better than his own
To petty cares, the lack OF tools and fences,
To rains droughts, weeds, the price of porl
and corn,
He gives his years; yet finds its recompenses,
Even In the life we fancy SO forlorn.
Man, to the last child, who still amuses
Himself all day with trihes great and small,
Cherishcs most the few poor toys he uses,
But, given too many, learns to scorn them oil
Sweeter than ease, sometimes, is rude priva
tion:
Less tedious than long leisure to live through
Are days full packed with wholesome occupa
tion:
Too many friends, no better than too few.
How little for our daily need suffices,
Gould each but know, contented with hi
share!
The frugal dish, which luxury despises.
Is to the humble sweet and wholesome fare,
With hope, q constant, cloud-illumng crescent
With love, and work for head or hands, thes'
three,
Alike the mightiest king or lowliest peasant
Finds life worth living, each in his degree.
Culture and gold are good, but not by building
More stately porches may we look to win
Peace to our dwelling; nor by gayly gliding
The fountain can we raise the Hood within.
We ply the fount with toll and rest and revel,
One casts in empires, and one bagatelles;
Still happiness in men will seek its level,
AS water from one source In many wells.
~. T. IrOts6ridqe, in ". Y. Independent.